Holidays, traditions and etiquette
Which holiday it is today in Georgia and whether shops are open, how to behave at a Georgian supra, what to bring your hosts and what the national costume is called.
-
What are the public holidays in Georgia?
Georgia has 18 official public holidays a year: New Year on 1-2 January, Christmas on 7 January, Epiphany on 19 January, Mother's Day on 3 March, 8 March, National Unity Day on 9 April, four days of Easter, 9 May, 12 May, 17 May, Independence Day on 26 May, Mariamoba on 28 August, Svetitskhovloba on 14 October and Giorgoba on 23 November.
-
When are Mariamoba, Giorgoba and Tbilisoba celebrated?
Mariamoba, the Dormition of the Virgin, falls on 28 August and is a public holiday.
-
Which hand do Georgians wear their wedding ring on?
Most Georgians wear their wedding ring on the ring finger of the right hand, following Orthodox tradition.
-
Where can you see Georgian dance and hear polyphonic singing in Tbilisi?
Georgian dance is best seen at concerts by national ensembles such as the Sukhishvili ballet, and at restaurants with evening folk shows.
-
Is 8 March celebrated in Georgia?
Yes, 8 March, International Women's Day, is an official public holiday in Georgia, when women receive flowers and gifts.
-
What do Georgians say when they clink glasses?
When clinking glasses, Georgians say gaumarjos (გაუმარჯოს), meaning 'long live' or 'victory', the key word of every toast.
-
When and how is Easter celebrated in Georgia?
Easter, Aghdgoma in Georgian, follows the Orthodox calendar and falls on the same day as Easter in Russia.
-
How is New Year celebrated in Georgia, and where is the main tree?
New Year is one of Georgia's biggest holidays: on the night of 1 January people gather for a big feast with gozinaki, walnuts in honey, plus satsivi and churchkhela.
-
What are Georgian musical instruments called?
The best-known Georgian instruments are the three-string panduri and four-string chonguri, the salamuri flute, the duduki, the gudastviri bagpipe, the doli drum and the bowed chuniri.
-
What to give a Georgian, and what gifts to bring from Russia?
When visiting Georgians, sweets, good tea or coffee, flowers for the host or a gift for the children are appropriate.
-
What should tourists, including women, wear in Georgia?
In Tbilisi and Batumi people dress in a relaxed, urban way, as in any European city, and there are no strict rules for visitors.
-
What are Georgian traditions, and how should you behave as a guest?
The core Georgian traditions are hospitality and the supra feast, where the tamada leads the toasts and the guest is offered the best of everything.
-
What does 'assa' mean, and what Georgian dances are there?
'Assa' is a cry used to cheer dancers on, roughly like 'come on!', with no literal translation.
-
What is Georgian national dress called: chokha, papakha, nabadi?
The men's national costume is the chokha, a long coat with cartridge pockets across the chest, worn over an arkhalukhi undershirt with a papakha hat; in bad weather a felt cloak called a nabadi goes on top.
-
What are the Georgian felt and sheepskin hats called?
The round felt cap is the Svan hat, svanuri kudi in Georgian, worn in Svaneti and popular as a souvenir.